Gnosis

¬†¬†¬† What is gnosis?¬† It comes from the Greek ‚Äúto know‚ÄĚ and is used to describe a special kind of knowledge. Many religions and ideologies use this word to describe different types of knowledge. On the other hand, the history of Gnostism and Gnostic Orders is a different matter. Crowley describes reaching Gnosis by its Sanskrit term: Samadhi. Peter Carroll in Liber Kaos describes a magical formula factoring in the attainment of gnosis juxtaposed against psychological resistance or disbelief. Experimental hypnotherapist Violet Fulton manipulated altered states to achieve gnosis. There is some speculation among modern occultists that the theta brain wave state is gnosis. Shamanic practices employ the use of chemical substances to reach non-ordinary states of awareness also considered gnosis. Attainment of the knowledge and conversation with the Holy Guardian Angel or Daemon is a type of gnosis. The True Will is discovered through gnosis. For the artist, gnosis often comes unbidden as the Muse of Inspiration. No matter how many people seek it, find it, and write about it, gnosis describes a personal mystery.¬† It is something that has to be experienced and can not be taught directly because each individual‚Äôs subjective orientation is hermetically sealed from birth by the accretion of aggregates.
So what is the big deal?¬† What is so awesome about gnosis and what does it mean for the Alternative Practitioners of Magick and Sorcery? Nothing and everything; it is a very personal thing. For the maverick and individualists it is liberation from any outside authority.¬† It is personal knowledge of a personal nature. Once gnosis is attained it becomes a tool in the Magickians toolbox. It is the personal key to utilizing altered states of awareness for pragmatic magick. To religious leaders, gnosis is the prerogative of the priesthood and not the congregation, because when an individual attains his or her own gnosis, they no longer need the priesthood. It is the ultimate experience of the personal mystery of self discovery and self awareness.
So how is gnosis attained?¬† There is only one way: your way. You can read a hundred books about it and try every meditation on the planet; until you find the way that works for you, you will not find it. It is a lot of hard work and self-analysis. The only way to find what your way is, is to look within. Of course looking within is a vague as you can get. The starting point, the ending point, and the central point is you; your individual awakening.
Some people feel so lost to themselves they need the identification with others to feel valid. There has been a lot of talk of projection lately and it applies to everyone every day. What we see in others is often the reflection of something in us. According to one Gnostic text, if you do not bring forth that which is within you, it will destroy you. There are clues all around even the most mundane person everyday pointing to what is within them and what needs to be brought out. The attainment of gnosis is not always discovered through the doctrine of avoidance. More often than not it is discovered by embracing life and analyzing what we deal with every day. In alchemy this is called taking the dross of daily life and turning it into the gold of spiritual life.

Now I did mention earlier in this article that the History of Gnosticism and Gnostic Orders is another matter. The reason I bring this up is because there is an interesting historical anomaly in their story.¬† While every other religion and ideology changes over time as it passes into the hands of new people and cultures, the core Gnostic ideas remain potently intact. One of the central ideas of the Gnostic organizations is that attaining gnosis is waking up to the real reality. The existence of this ‚Äúreal‚ÄĚ reality is tantalizingly suggested by the fact that their doctrines have survived the cut and paste of religious and political movements over the ages. I have read countless books by different religions and ideologies about Gnostics and they all agree on all of the actual points of fact. Whether you are reading the Nag Hammadi library, the Rosicrucian library or the 218 library they all read the same in philosophy and description of the ‚Äúreal‚ÄĚ situation that we are in and what our interaction with the ‚Äúreal‚ÄĚ world would seem like. Very interesting.
So do you dare to attain gnosis; do you want to know?¬† When you know, what will you do with that knowledge? Do you dare bring forth that which is within you? It is time‚Ä¶

Until next time‚Ä¶Blessed Awakening

Article by Firestorm Coraxo

This entry was posted
on gioved√¨, agosto 30th, 2012 at 00:40
and is filed under Esoterismo.
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